Wednesday, 5 November 2025

Wednesday of the 22nd week after Pentecost

199 days after Pascha · Tone 4 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy apostle Hermas of Philippopolis

Saint Hermas, one of the Seventy Apostles greeted by Saint Paul in his Epistle to the Romans (16:14), was a Greek who spent some years at Rome before being sent forth to preach the Gospel in Thrace. He was appointed bishop of Philippopolis (now Plovdiv in Bulgaria), where he laboured tirelessly to enlighten the pagan inhabitants of the region, baptizing many and establishing the Church among the Thracian peoples. According to the tradition recorded in the synaxaria, he was wealthy in his earlier life but fell into poverty through his own sins and the misdeeds of his sons; visited by an angel of repentance who remained with him, he turned wholly to God. Some Orthodox sources identify him with the Hermas to whom is ascribed the early second-century work "The Shepherd," though others distinguish the two. He ended his earthly course as a martyr for Christ. He is honoured today with the four other apostles of the Seventy commemorated on 5 November, and again on 31 May among his fellow apostles.

Holy apostles Patrobus, Hermas, Linus, Gaius and Philologus of the Seventy

The five holy apostles commemorated on this day were among the Seventy chosen by the Lord and sent out to preach the Gospel, and all are greeted by name by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans. Saint Patrobus, mentioned in Romans 16:14, was appointed bishop of Pottole near Naples in Italy, where he baptized many pagans and built up the Church. Saint Hermas, also greeted in Romans 16:14, became bishop of Philippopolis in Thrace, where he preached the faith and ended his life as a martyr; he is sometimes identified by tradition with the Hermas to whom is ascribed the early Christian work "The Shepherd." Saint Linus, mentioned by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:21, succeeded the Apostle Peter as bishop of Rome, where he laboured and was eventually martyred. Saint Gaius, named in Romans 16:23 as Paul's host at Corinth, became bishop of Ephesus after the Apostle Timothy. Saint Philologus, greeted in Romans 16:15, was consecrated by the Apostle Andrew the First-Called as bishop of Sinope on the Black Sea. All five reposed in the Lord after fruitful apostolic labour, and the Church honours them together as faithful labourers in the first Christian mission.

Holy martyrs Galaction and Episteme of Emesa

A pagan couple, Cleitophon and Leucippe, who lived in Emesa in the reign of the Emperor Decius, were grieved that they were unable to have children. One day a monk named Onuphrius came to their door seeking alms to give to the poor, and seeing Leucippe’s downcast face, asked her what was wrong. When she replied that she was barren, Onuphrius told her that this was by God’s providence, to prevent their child from being given over to idolatry, and that if they accepted Christ she would bear a child. Leucippe was baptized into the Faith and bore a son not long after, which in turn brought her husband to faith in Christ. The son was named Galaction in baptism.

Years later, Galaction’s father, now widowed, decided that Galaction should marry a pagan maiden named Episteme. Galaction married out of obedience, but would not approach Episteme’s bed since she was a pagan. In time, he convinced her of the truth of the Faith and baptised her himself. Not long after she was told in a dream of the glory that awaits those who consecrate themselves wholly to God. When she told her husband of the dream, they both resolved to remain in virginity, settling in separate monastic communities near to one another.

In one of the Emperor’s persecutions of Christians, Galaction was seized by imperial soldiers and taken away to be killed. Episteme, told in a vision of his arrest, asked the blessing of her abbess to join him in martyrdom. Receiving it, she hurried to Galaction’s place of imprisonment, boldly announced her faith in Christ, and after many tortures and humiliations husband and wife were beheaded together.

Saint Jonah, archbishop of Novgorod

Saint Jonah, archbishop of Novgorod, was born in Novgorod the Great early in the fifteenth century and orphaned in childhood. Raised by a pious widow who provided for his Christian formation, he received an unusual blessing in his boyhood from the holy fool Michael Klopsky, who prophesied that he would one day be archbishop of Novgorod. Tonsured a monk at the monastery of Saint Onuphrius on the Volkhov, he advanced to the priesthood and eventually to the office of hegumen, ruling his community with humility and gentleness. In 1458 he was elected archbishop of Novgorod and consecrated by Saint Jonah of Moscow. As archbishop he was a vigorous defender of Orthodox piety, a builder of churches and monasteries, and a peacemaker who repeatedly interceded with the grand prince of Moscow on behalf of his city. He was the spiritual father of Saint Zosima of Solovki, whom he supported in founding the great northern monastery. After fifteen years of fruitful labour, he reposed in peace on 5 November 1470, and his incorrupt relics were uncovered some years later, granting healings to many.

Our Holy Father Gregory the Confessor, Patriarch of Alexandria

early 9th c.

This much-loved shepherd of the Church at Alexandria was unanimously elected to the Patriarchate by the Bishops and people of that city. Though meek and humble, he was a fierce defender of holy Orthodoxy, which was then under attack by the Emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820). For his fearless defense of the holy Icons, Gregory was arrested at the Emperor’s orders and brought in chains to Constantinople. Brought before Leo, the holy Patriarch told him clearly that he was a heretic and an enemy of the Church. The enraged Emperor had Gregory scourged, then sent into exile, where he reposed three years later.

Also commemorated: Repose St Jonah of Novgorod

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Colossians — Colossians 3.17-4.1

¹⁷And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

¹⁸Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁸Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. ²⁰Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. ²⁰Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. ²¹Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. ²¹Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged. ²²Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: ²²Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord: ²³And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ²³whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ. ²⁴Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. ²⁵But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

¹Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

¹Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 11.42-46

⁴²But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

⁴²But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God: but these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. ⁴³Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. ⁴³Woe unto you Pharisees! for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the marketplaces. ⁴⁴Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. ⁴⁴Woe unto you! for ye are as the tombs which appear not, and the men that walk over them know it not.

⁴⁵And one of the lawyers answering saith unto him, Teacher, in saying this thou reproachest us also.

⁴⁵Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. ⁴⁶And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. ⁴⁶And he said, Woe unto you lawyers also! for ye load men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.